Friday, June 26, 2015

Guest
blogger Susan Pranger is an architect and Boston resident. The
following blog post summarizes the study she recently completed as
her capstone project at the Boston Architectural College for a master
of design studies (MDS) in sustainable design. The buildings at HBI’s
prospective project at 1786 Fowler Clark Farm in Mattapan were among
those Susan used to model some of her recommendations for preparing
historic structures to withstand the impacts of new weather
associated with temperature changes.

Now
is the time to prepare for the impacts of Global Warming on historic
buildings. It is no longer sufficient to focus only on reducing
energy consumption and related emissions; we must also prepare for
the inevitable impacts.

The
general consensus among scientists is that Global Warming is already
happening and is irreversible, although the rate of change and the
severity will depend on our actions to reduce emissions. The risk of
severe storms, changes in habitat, and both local and global changes
will increase with the rise with the global temperature.

Changes
in sea level, temperature, and solar radiation (UVB) may be occurring
gradually, but their impact on weather patterns is complex and can
occur suddenly. This past winter’s record snowfall in New England
and the related ice dam damage has possible roots in global warming:

“Warmer
air is capable of holding more moisture- so a generally warmer
atmosphere will hold more precipitation, even in the winter. As with
heat waves, the frequency of such events are generally decreasing,
but their intensity is increasing (as shown by the devastating
blizzards in February 2010 in the mid-Atlantic region)”
(Climate Institute n.d.)

Restoration
of the historic substation will begin this month by Peregrine Group LLC, developers of the mixed-use Parkside on Adams, a 43-unit
apartment complex with destination restaurant in the Substation,
operated by restaurateur Chris Douglass. Both Douglass and
Peregrine’s principals Jordan Stone and Bev Gallo were present to
welcome HBI’s visitors and explain their plans for the historic
substation. They were joined by Bryan Reeves, Roslindale resident
and operator of Craft Beer Cellar, a craft beer retail
operation that will locate in the lower level of the Roslindale
Substation after it is rehabilitated.

The
Foundation’s grant is supporting architecture, engineering and
financial analyses for preservation of the threatened historic
farmhouse, 1860s barn and landscape for a combined housing and urban
farming program. The property, once the center of a 330 acre
colonial farmstead, is today about 30,000 square feet of land. The
house and barn have never been moved and are collectively protected
as a designated Boston Landmark.

Eastern Bank was founded in 1818 and is the oldest mutual bank in the
country. In 2015, the bank’s foundation will
donate approximately $6.4 million to many organizations across
eastern Massachusetts and southern and coastal New Hampshire.

The
redevelopment of this building will continue the positive economic
development in Upham’s Corner and reflects the objectives of both
nonprofit organizations to strengthen the Upham’s Corner business
district through their combined expertise in real estate development,
historic preservation, and economic development.